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Committee recommends budget amendment to add two ADA all‑gender toilet rooms to courthouse jury assembly
Summary
Facilities staff presented a capital project to build two all‑gender ADA-accessible toilet rooms in the courthouse jury assembly area to reduce travel distance for jurors and to serve mobility‑impaired visitors; the committee recommended the budget amendment.
The committee recommended a budget amendment to install two all‑gender ADA-accessible toilet rooms in the courthouse jury assembly area to shorten travel distance for jurors and accommodate mobility-impaired users.
Misty Reitz, manager of capital planning and design, and Jennifer Henson Piesic, interim supervisor for facilities planning and engineering and the project manager, described the plan to add two toilet rooms inside the jury assembly footprint on the ground floor near the south lobby. Staff said the additional fixtures will reduce long walks (including one 150-foot route to existing restrooms and stair/grade changes) that have caused accessibility and health incidents for some jurors.
Staff explained the project will require routing plumbing down an existing shaft to tie into the sanitary main in the basement; that plumbing and associated construction are the primary cost drivers. Facilities said the department will use internal trades where feasible and will also contract out specialized plumbing work. Commissioners toured the space and asked about seat loss, circulation impacts and cost. Staff said seating in the assembly will not be reduced materially and that the project fits adjacent to existing mechanical and restroom spaces.
Commissioner Taylor moved the recommendation; the motion carried on a 5-0 vote. Staff will return to the full board with the formal budget amendment and will proceed with design and procurement steps.
